Public Bill Committee

[Mr. Edward O'Hara in the Chair]

Clause 1

Sustainability of local communities

Amendment proposed [14 March]: No. 2, in clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out subsection (2).—[Mr. Woolas.]

Nick Hurd: I beg to move, That the debate be now adjourned.
The Committee will be beginning to think that this is “Groundhog Day”, so it deserves an explanation. After a disappointing start, the Government are seriously engaged in negotiations on the Bill. The Minister ison record as saying yesterday in questions that he and his colleagues are working to make the Bill better and more workable. Negotiations are ongoing and are being conducted constructively.
On Monday night, we had a rally in Central hall, attended by 1,000 people, in support of the Bill, and the Minister spoke constructively about his desire not to block the Bill and to engage constructively with it. Negotiations are ongoing but have not yet reached a stage at which substantive agreement has been reached and which would justify our moving forward in debates today.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,
That the Committee at its rising this day do adjourn till Wednesday 18th April at Ten o’clock, and that it do meet thereafter—
(a) on Wednesday 18th April at Two o’clock; and
(b) on subsequent Wednesdays when the House is sitting at Ten o’clock and Two o’clock.—[Mr. Hurd.]

Committee rose at one minute past Ten o’clock.